Jim Chavez *

Executive Director, Community College of Denver Foundation and Governmental Affairs

Jim Chavez is the executive director of the Community College of Denver Foundation and Government Affairs. 

Chavez has worked much of his professional life for education-related causes. As a board member and staff member of the Colorado Student Obligation Bond Authority, he was instrumental in creating Colorado’s first prepaid college tuition program, now known as CollegeInvest, and then worked across the U.S. to develop and implement numerous state college savings programs, or Section 529 plans. He began his career as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young.

Chavez is a member of the board of commissioners for the Denver Housing Authority and a member of the board of directors for the Colorado Nonprofit Association. He is a former trustee for the Clayton Early Learning Center, past board member for the Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Corporation, and a past member of the board of trustees for the University of Northern Colorado. He is a graduate of Colorado State University.

JB Holston

Executive Director, Colorado Department of Higher Education

JB Holston was appointed executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education by Governor Jared Polis, assuming the role in January 2026.

Holston is a business, civic, and higher education leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship, public policy media, and innovation.

Before joining the department, Holston served as dean of the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Denver, where he focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration. His career also includes senior leadership roles in the private sector, including executive positions at media and technology companies, as well as chief executive officer of the Greater Washington Partnership, a regional economic development organization.

In Colorado, Holston has been a key figure in the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. He was the founding executive director of Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network and a co-founder of several civic initiatives, including the Colorado Media Project and the Colorado Mass Timber Coalition. His work has emphasized inclusive growth, innovation and talent development.

Holston holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University.

Kate Siegel Shimko

Vice Chancellor for Administration and Governmental Relations, Colorado State University System

Kate Siegel Shimko serves as the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Governmental Relations for the CSU System, a role she was appointed to in 2024. She initially joined the System on November 1, 2022, as the inaugural Assistant Vice Chancellor for Community Engagement. In that role, she focused on building relationships with the state’s executive branch, as well as with the city and county of Denver and the broader business community.

With over a decade of experience in state and national politics, Siegel Shimko has worked across consulting, fundraising, and strategic development. Prior to joining CSU, she served as Director of Boards and Commissions in the Colorado Governor’s Office, where she managed the appointment of over 2,200 individuals to more than 300 state boards and commissions during her nearly four-year tenure.

Jennifer Bacon

Representative, Colorado State Legislature

Scott Bright

Senator, Colorado State Legislature

Megan Lukens

Representative, Colorado State Legislature